Drugstore.com and Rite Aid expand partnership

Drugstore.com and Rite Aid are expanding their partnership by launching a Rite Aid online store for over-the-counter products, both companies said Thursday.

Drugstore.com, based in Bellevue, will power the Rite Aid store, expected to go live later this year.

Rite Aid will get the rights to prescriptions ordered online for pick up at a Rite Aid store, and Drugstore.com will receive $10 million from Rite Aid. Drugstore.com will also be paid to market Rite Aid prescriptions.

“Rite Aid will develop marketing programs to drive traffic to the new site, and given the differing demographics, we expect these sales to be incremental to Drugstore.com,” said Drugstore.com CEO Dawn Lepore in a statement.

Meanwhile, Rite Aid Chief Operating Officer Rob Easley said, “Having our own online OTC store and being able to market directly to those customers is an important next step in our digital strategy.”